Descendientes de Jose Palacios : Villa de Corullon 2017

The balance and elegance of a red wine from Bierzo

The estate

An illustrious winegrower at the origin of the high-quality revolution of Spanish wines these last twenty years, Alvaro Palacios founded the Descendientes de J. Palacios estate with his nephew, Ricardo Perez, with the ambition of revealing the enormous potential of the DO (Denominación de Origen), Bierzo. This family winegrowing estate bears the name of Alvaro’s father and Ricardo’s grandfather, who passed away in 2000.

They chose the city of Corullón in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain, because of its unique terroir. Pioneering, passionate and rigorous, Alvaro Palacios and Richardo Perez produce wines which authentically express the diversity and richness of the terroirs in DO Bierzo. These great wines are renowned for being among the most iconic in the appellation.

The vineyard

The Villa de Corullon 2017 by Descendientes de Jose Palacio sis produced from 200 small vine plots, with 50- to 90-year-old vines located within the village of Corullon.

This sloping terroir covers an area of 10.5 hectares and is located at between 500 and 950 metres above sea level. It derives its uniqueness from the heterogeneity of its soils, which are composed of schist, quartzite, silicate, sand, sandstone and clay. The vineyard is managed biodynamically, in accordance with traditional Bierzo methods.

Winemaking and ageing

The harvested grapes are subject to alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts within wooden vats, accompanied by regular punch-downs. Maceration lasts for 30 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in oak vats. Ageing, which lasts for 14 months, is carried out in barrels and tuns.

The vintage

2017 was a year marked by extreme contrasts in climate. The good quality flowering and fruit set compensate for the frosts and heavy rainfall that started at the beginning of the year and during spring. Meteorological events strongly impacted all of the vineyards, namely the late frost on 27 April followed by the spell of hail and heavy rain on 9 May, as well as the multiple thunderstorms thereafter, which caused numerous landslides. The particularly hot and dry summer was punctuated by low rainfall. The harvests, which began in August, were the earliest in the estate’s history. Despite the hot and dry conditions during the vintage, this vintage unveiled a beautiful balance and elegance with lots of finesse.

Blend

Villa de Corullon 2017 by Descendientes de Jose Palacios is 100% Mencia.